Key result
Chemotherapy in women with breast cancer was associated with significant reductions in autonomic function (rMSSD 14.89 vs 39.15, p=0.01) and non-dominant handgrip strength compared to healthy controls.
Why the study?
Chemotherapy is effective for cancer but can cause serious complications including cardiotoxicity, prompting evaluation of its impact on functional capacity, muscle strength, and autonomic function in breast cancer.
Does chemotherapy reduce functional capacity, muscle strength, and autonomic function in women with breast cancer compared to healthy controls?
Case-Control (n=20)
Single-blind (outcome assessors)
No
Does chemotherapy reduce functional capacity, muscle strength, and autonomic function in women with breast cancer compared to healthy controls?
Absolute Event Rate: 14.89% vs 39.15%
p-value: p=0.01
Chemotherapy in breast cancer patients is associated with significant reductions in autonomic function and muscle strength, highlighting the need for early cardiovascular monitoring.
Supports monitoring strength and autonomic function during breast cancer chemotherapy; hypothesis-generating for mitigation strategies needing prospective trials.
BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most incident types of cancer among women in the world. Although chemotherapy is an effective way to treat several types of cancer, it may also cause serious complications, including cardiotoxicity. This study aimed to identify the impact of chemotherapy on functional capacity, muscle strength and autonomic function. METHODS: Ten breast cancer patients in therapeutic follow-up (TG) and ten women without comorbidities (CG) participated in the study (46±8.87 years old). Both groups were evaluated at two time points, before and 20 weeks after the start of chemotherapy. Functional capacity and muscle strength were assessed by 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and handgrip test, respectively. Autonomic function was assessed by heart rate variability analysis. RESULTS: max (p>0.05) and 6MWT total distance (p>0.05). Regarding the heart rate variability variables before and after follow-up period, rMSSD (CG= 39.15±37.66; TG= 14.89±8.28, p= 0.01) and SDNN (CG= 55.77±40.03; TG= 26.30±10.37, p= 0.02) showed effect in the group and time interaction, whereas the LF/HF ratio presented significant difference only in the time analysis (CG= 2.24±2.30; TG= 2.84±1.82, p= 0.04). CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy used in the treatment of breast cancer patients resulted in decreased muscle strength and autonomic imbalance. The data suggests that chemotherapy may carry the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registration not required.
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Sousa et al. (2024) conducted a case-control in Breast cancer (n=20). Chemotherapy vs. Healthy women without comorbidities was evaluated on Root mean square of successive differences between RR intervals (rMSSD) at 20 weeks (p=0.01). Chemotherapy in women with breast cancer was associated with significant reductions in autonomic function (rMSSD 14.89 vs 39.15, p=0.01) and non-dominant handgrip strength compared to healthy controls.
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